advertisement

Saline County cleans up after EF-2 tornado

There were no reported injuries Tuesday after what the National Weather Service on Wednesday confirmed was an EF2 tornado passed through a portion of northern Saline County.

Damage, however, was widespread, considering the rural area through which the storm passed.

The tornado had peak winds of 125 mph and a path 125 miles long. Initially, it touched down southwest of Galatia, and then damaged homes and buildings along Johnston City Road as it continued east and slightly north.

It crossed Illinois 34, continuing on its path and damaging additional buildings north of Raleigh.

Illinois 34 between Raleigh and Galatia was closed as workers from American Coal Co. and emergency responders removed large sections of a metal pole barn that had been blown into the highway by the tornado.

In addition, Johnston City Road also was closed from Harco west.

Illinois Department of Transportation workers continued to clear debris on Illinois 34 on Wednesday, often reducing the highway to one lane and sometimes stopping traffic completely as workers and equipment were moved.

Saline County farmer Mark Oglesby, at right, talks with an insurance adjuster while his wife Jena and father-in-law Jerry Irwin pick up debris. TRAVIS DENEAL/Harrisburg Register
Farmer Mark Oglesby, at right, talks to an insurance adjuster Wednesday while surveying damage to his farm from a tornado Tuesday evening. TRAVIS DENEAL/Harrisburg Register
Farmer Mark Oglesby, left, talks to an insurance adjuster Wednesday while surveying damage to his farm from a tornado Tuesday evening. TRAVIS DENEAL/Harrisburg Register
A row of pine trees along Illinois 34 snapped in half from Tuesday evening's storm. TRAVIS DENEAL/Harrisburg Register
Traffic is temporarily stopped along Illinois 34 Wednesday as Illinois Department of Transportation workers move debris remaining on the highway from Tuesday night's tornado. TRAVIS DENEAL/Harrisburg Register
Traffic is temporarily stopped along Illinois 34 Wednesday as Illinois Department of Transportation workers move debris remaining on the highway from Tuesday night's tornado. TRAVIS DENEAL/Harrisburg Register
Jerry Irwin picks up smaller pieces of debris next to the destroyed grain bin owned by his daughter and song-in-law, Jena and Mark Oglesby of Galatia. TRAVIS DENEAL/Harrisburg Register
What's left of a pole barn that was in the path of the tornado that hit northern Saline County Tuesday evening. The poles remained, but sheet metal and trusses were gone. TRAVIS DENEAL/Harrisburg Register
Saline County farmer Mark Oglesby, left, talks with an insurance adjuster while looking at his destroyed grain bin Wednesday. TRAVIS DENEAL/Harrisburg Register
Saline County farmer Mark Oglesby, left, talks with an insurance adjuster while looking at his destroyed grain bin Wednesday. TRAVIS DENEAL/Harrisburg Register
Steve Oglesby cuts a limb from a damaged tree on the farm of his brother and sister-in-law, Mark and Jena Oglesby. TRAVIS DENEAL/Harrisburg Register